Roller Hockey Rumble (4 page)
Penalty shots were tough. The puck was placed in the face-off circle. The shooter had one chance to get the puck past the goalie. If that one shot didn’t make it in, too bad. But if it did . . .
Bizz looked at her teammates. A goal now would even up the score, giving them a fighting chance at victory. X and Jonas could probably do it. She wasn’t sure about Charlie or Mark.
Then she turned to Savannah — and smiled. “You take it,” she said to her friend. Savannah looked startled, but she skated to the face-off circle without arguing. Alison placed the puck before her, stepped back, and blew her whistle. The goalie crouched in the crease. Savannah raised her stick behind her and swung.
Thwack!
The puck soared toward the goal. Bizz held her breath as the goalie lunged forward, reached out his glove — and just managed to knock the puck away. As the other team cheered, Savannah slowly skated back to her friends.
“I blew it,” she said sadly.
“Are you kidding me?” Bizz cried. “Do you know how difficult penalty shots are? And he almost didn’t stop it! Not bad for someone who’s only been playing for one week.” She grinned at Savannah. “Now get out there. They can’t win that game without you!”
Savannah hugged Bizz and skated to her position on defense. X moved to the front line with Jonas. Charlie and Mark took up their same spots — and the game was on.
Back and forth went the action. Jonas and X worked well together on the front line. Between them, they scored three goals. Savannah did her best on defense, clearing the puck to the side whenever it came loose near her. Charlie teamed up with the front line for some plays and stayed back on others. And Mark saved almost as many goals as he let in.
Almost, but not quite. When Alison blew her whistle to signal the end of the game, the score was uneven. Frank’s team had won seven to four. They celebrated by making woofing noises and rolling upraised fists through the air. Then, after shouting “loo-oo-sers!” a few times, they left the park.
Alison made sure Bizz’s leg was okay, then she left, too.
The kids sat around the picnic table.
“I can’t believe we lost,” Jonas said. “No more rink, no more hockey.”
“Shoot, we can still play,” Bizz said. “We’ll find a place. And we’ll get better until our team totally rocks! And when we do,” she finished, her voice full of determination, “we’ll challenge those guys to a re-match. So, who’s with me?”
She put her hand in the middle of the table. Savannah laid her hand on top, followed by Charlie, X, Jonas, and Mark. They grinned at one another, then, with a
whoop,
flung their hands into the air.
“Go, team!”
Roller hockey is a fast-paced, action-filled sport. To play roller hockey, you need to know how to inline skate and how to handle a hockey stick. You also need to have the proper safety equipment.
Worried that such equipment will slow you down? Think you’re too tough to need it? Think again!
Roller hockey is played on pavement. Roller hockey players move quickly. Imagine a fast-moving player falling down on pavement or colliding with another player. If he or she isn’t wearing protective gear, he or she is going to get badly hurt.
Roller hockey pucks are made of hard rubber. When a puck is hit forcefully, it flies at great speed. If it strikes a player, it can do serious damage unless the player is wearing the proper gear.
Therefore, it’s important for roller hockey players to protect themselves from the top down. Helmets with face masks; mouth guards; wrist guards; and elbow, knee, and shin pads are worn by all players. Goalies wear even more padding. Long-sleeve shirts and lightweight pants can help prevent scrapes.
After all, you’ve only got one body — so use your brain and protect it!
#1
ONE SMOOTH MOVE
#2
DAY OF THE DRAGON
#3
ROLLER HOCKEY RUMBLE
#4
ON THIN ICE
#5
ROCK ON
#6
INTO THE DANGER ZONE
#7
WILD RIDE